Urban Ventures is a new urban
consulting organization, formed in 2003, with the ambitious goal
of shaping and supporting collaborative efforts that lead to
significant and measurable improvements in the quality of
American urban communities. We work mainly with foundations and
nonprofits. Where possible, we seek to join the ideas and
resources of the independent sector with those of government and
the private sector to expand the scope of programs and projects
and their impacts on urban places. Urban Ventures was formed in
the belief that results do matter, and results at scale matter
even more. Focusing on results requires attention to how ideas,
organizations and resources come together to achieve them.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the urban revitalization
field, where the persistent problems of poverty and
disinvestment in many cities and whole regions are leading to a
fundamental reexamination of current strategies and practice.
Urban Ventures brings together a network of creative and
seasoned professionals who share a commitment to innovation and
to making the best possible use of limited resources. The
organization is headed by Tom Burns, an urban planner and
management consultant with 30 years of experience. The
organization’s small core staff supports a national network of
urban professionals that are brought together in project teams
tailored to the needs of individual engagements.
The organization’s engagements are varied, encompassing
organizational strategic planning, new program development,
applied research and evaluation. Clients include national and
local funders, place-based partnerships and collaboratives, and
individual nonprofits. Nearly all of its current work is
directed toward projects that extend current practice, expand
upon practices that work, and establish funding and financing
mechanisms for promising new ventures.
Every project the organization undertakes employs a
learning-while-doing approach that integrates the varied
experiences and perspectives of everyone involved. Where
possible, planning and execution happen together to achieve
clearly articulated innovation goals.
Urban Ventures is headquartered in Philadelphia and maintains a
small office in Los Angeles.